Canada to unveil new security legislation after 2014 attacks -PM

TORONTO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Canada will introduce new
legislation aimed at giving more powers to its police and
security agencies in the wake of two attacks by Muslim converts
last year, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on
Sunday.

Harper, whose ruling Conservatives are trailing in polls
heading into a federal election this year, said the new laws
will be put before Parliament next Friday.

Security officials have been on alert since a gunman
attacked Canada's Parliament in October, fatally shooting a
soldier at a nearby war memorial. The attack by a so-called
"lone wolf" Canadian citizen came two days after another
Canadian convert ran down two soldiers in Quebec, killing one.

"These measures are designed to help authorities stop
planned attacks, get threats off our streets, criminalize the
promotion of terrorism, and prevent terrorists from travelling
and recruiting others," he said in the prepared text of speech
in Ottawa.

"It will contain a range of measures to ensure that our
police and security agencies have the tools they need to meet
evolving threats, and keep Canadians safe."

Harper said the new legislation, which he did not describe
in detail, would not infringe on constitutionally protected
rights to free speech, association and religion.

"But neither will we under-react, because the big picture,
my friends, is very worrisome," he said. "Jihadi terrorists are
destabilizing large parts of the globe."

After the Parliament attack, Canada's Conservative
government introduced a bill to enhance the Canadian Security
Intelligence Service (CSIS) spy agency. It said at the time it
would also present other legislation designed to allow police to
pre-empt threats and crack down on hate speech.

Experts, including constitutional lawyers, have noted that
law enforcement agencies already have wide-ranging powers at
their disposal and could use rarely tapped provisions in
Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act.

The 2013 Combating Terrorism Act introduced new powers and
penalties aimed at least in part at preventing such attacks. It
also allows for preventative detention and interrogating
suspects before any charges are laid in certain circumstances.

Lawyers have said the fact that these options have been
rarely tapped by authorities is a sign that more regular
techniques and procedures are sufficient for now.
(Writing by Amran Abocar; Editing by Eric Walsh)